The French government has announced that it will enforce a ban on the all-covering Muslim robe, known as the abaya, within the nation’s schools, starting from September 4th. The ban is part of a broader law that prohibits the wearing of any religious symbols or clothing in public educational institutions.
The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, said today that his ministry would actively assist in the implementation of the ban, which he described as “absolutely correct”. He said that the abaya was incompatible with the principle of secularism, which is a cornerstone of the French Republic.
“There should be neutrality in schools. Everyone could have their own opinion outside it,” Darmanin said in an interview with France Inter radio.
The ban on religious clothing in schools was passed by the French parliament in July, following a proposal by President Emmanuel Macron. The law aims to protect the secular values of the French Republic and to combat radical Islamism, which Macron has called “a threat to our society”.
The law has sparked a fierce debate in France, where some see it as a necessary measure to preserve the country’s secular identity and to prevent religious extremism, while others view it as a violation of religious freedom and an attack on Muslim women’s rights.
The law also applies to other religious symbols and clothing, such as crosses, kippas, turbans, and hijabs. However, the abaya has been singled out as a particularly problematic garment, as it covers the entire body and face of the wearer, leaving only the eyes visible.
Some critics of the law have argued that the abaya is not a religious symbol, but a cultural one, and that banning it would amount to discrimination and stigmatization of Muslim women. They have also pointed out that very few Muslim women wear the abaya in France, and that most of them choose to do so voluntarily.
However, supporters of the law have claimed that the abaya is a symbol of oppression and submission of women, and that it goes against the values of equality and dignity that France upholds. They have also argued that the abaya poses a security risk, as it prevents the identification of the wearer and could be used to conceal weapons or explosives.
The enforcement of the ban will likely face legal challenges and protests from some Muslim groups and human rights organizations, who have denounced it as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled that France’s ban on full-face veils in public places, which was introduced in 2010, does not violate human rights.
The ban on religious clothing in schools is one of several measures that the French government has taken to combat radical Islamism and to promote secularism in recent years. These include cracking down on extremist mosques and associations, strengthening the oversight of foreign funding for religious organizations, and creating a charter of republican values for Muslim leaders to sign.
The issue of secularism and religious freedom is a sensitive one in France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, estimated at around 6 million people. The country has also faced several terrorist attacks by Islamist militants in recent years, which have killed hundreds of people and shaken its social cohesion.
The ban on abaya in schools is expected to be a major topic of discussion and controversy in France and beyond, as the country prepares for its presidential election next year. Macron is seeking re-election for a second term, but he faces strong opposition from both the right-wing National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen, who advocates for a tougher stance on immigration and Islam, and from the left-wing France Unbowed party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who champions multiculturalism and social justice.
1of30LikeDislikeCopyExportShareContinue on phone
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
